Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to resume ship inspections as part of the grain initiative
The Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine - the Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov said that at a meeting with the Minister of National Defense of Turkey Hulusi Akar regarding the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement was reached on the renewal of registration and inspection of vessels arriving under loading Ukrainian grain.
"On the agenda, the main issue is unblocking and ensuring the effective functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Agreements were reached on renewal of registration and inspection of ships," he said.
Since April 10, Russia stopped registering the new incoming fleet to participate in the Initiative and refused to work according to the plans of Ukrainian ports. This made it impossible to draw up inspection plans and effectively stopped the entry of new vessels under the grain initiative.
During the last two days, April 17-18, no inspection plan was drawn up and no inspection was conducted in Turkish territorial waters. On April 18, the Ukrainian side offered to conduct at least 2 inspections of the outgoing and 2 incoming fleets. This proposal was also supported by the tourby the Estonian side, but was not implemented due to Russia's position.
"By demanding to regulate the activity of Ukrainian ports by determining the vessels that can participate in the Initiative, Russia has violated the official procedures of the Joint Coordination Center and the terms of the grain agreement in particular. Demands to control and interfere in the work of Ukrainian ports are unacceptable to us," Kubrakov emphasized.
The Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine - the Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure added that despite the fact that ship inspections will be renewed, working consultations with the UN and Turkey continue on ways to ensure the full implementation of the grain agreement in compliance with the obligations of all parties and procedures of the SCC.
Kubrakov's visit to Turkey is taking place against the background of the statement of the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine about the blocking of the grain agreement by Russia. Since April 10, the Russian side in the Istanbul Joint Coordination Center has unilaterally stopped the registration of vessels that are submitted to Ukrainian ports for the formation of an inspection plan.